A slow but steadfast CAGR of 1.5% within the timeframe of the next six years from 2014 should see the Europe sodium silicate market attain a net value of US$897.6 million by 2020. The market’s value of US$808.8 million in 2013 had already equaled a volume of 1,005 kilo tons.

Commonly known as sodium silicates, this group of compounds has found a multitude of uses over the years. The most commonly used compound from this family is sodium metasilicate, also known as liquid glass or water glass, and is usually available commercially in either liquid or solid form. Most commercial forms of liquid glass are colored due to the presence of metallic impurities, unlike pure liquid glass, which is colorless.

There are great many uses of sodium silicate, each being slightly different than the other. This is because the chemical properties offered by the various members of the sodium silicate family are so incredibly diverse that a change in a molecule group could mean the difference between food preservation and flame retardation.

Drilling Fluid: Sodium silicate is widely used for the creation of drilling fluids that stabilize the wells in the boreholes. This helps avoid bore walls collapsing on the drill.

Masonry: The Europe sodium silicate market gains significant demand from the creation of treatment materials that reduce the porosity of many plasters, stucco, and concrete.

Water Treatment: Sodium silicate molecules stick to waste particles in water, making them heavier and easier to clean out.

Adhesives: Sodium silicate is the most used in the production of cardboard, where it is used in the cementing mixture.

Car Scrapping: The Europe sodium silicate market offers solutions that can be used to permanently dismantle a car engine.

Car Repairs: The Europe sodium silicate market contains multiple products that are useful in sealing leaks in a car’s head gasket. Liquid glass can be used instead of replacing the gasket to seal leaks that electrolysis might create.

Repairing Metals: When mixed with magnesium silicate and water, sodium silicate forms a paste that can be used as a fitter in muffler repairs.

Food Preservative: the Europe sodium silicate market has found great use in the preservation of food, especially eggs, as it kept fresh eggs out of reach from harmful bacteria.

Flame Retardant: sodium silicate can be used in imparting passive flame retardant properties as they are inherently intumescent.

Both healthcare and food sectors are beginning to show a greater demand from the Europe sodium silicate market, which will consequently boost the market over time. This growing demand, however, is under serious threat from upcoming alternatives to sodium silicate, which include sodium carbonate as well as trisodium phosphate. These substitutes are especially gaining favor in dyeing applications. Add to that a rollercoaster of costs for the raw materials needed to create sodium solicate and you have some issues that could potentially hamper the Europe sodium silicate market’s growth in the near future.

The fastest growing segment in the Europe sodium silicate market is elastomers, while the market is also witnessing the rise of new opportunities such as in recovery of enhanced oil. These could create the demand to keep the Europe sodium silicate market growing at its current rate.